Wardrobe trunk



' B. M. HAMLIN.

WARDROBE TRUNK. APPLICATION FILED NOV.2B, 1919.

Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR m3 ATTORNEY B. M- HAMLIN-- WARDROBE TRUNK. AFPUCATIONFILED NOV.|28, I919- Patented Oct. 24, 1922?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- HI/Ill M,

:ehmismv W m INVENTOR wda g I:S ATTORNEY Patented (lot. 24, 1922.

entree stares earner estates.

BEN M. HAMLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 3'. V. MEYER ING TRUNK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WARDROBE TRUNK.

Application filed November 28, 1919.

To all U1]! 0m 52'; may concern Be it known that I, Ben M. HAMLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook County, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ln'ipro'vements in ardrobe Trunks, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to trunks and more particularly to that type of trunks commonly called wardrobe trunks. Trunks of this-character are usually constructed of two sections hinged together on a vertical. axis, one of the sections ordinarily being provided with drawers and other compartments, and the other section being provided with a fixture and garment hanga A follower is provided in the garment section, andordinarily the follower serves merely for the one purpose of holding the garments in compact form so that they will not become disturbed and wrinkled from the rough use to which trunks are put, but may retain their shape while suspended in the garment section of the trunk. v

()ne object of this invention is to provide anironing-board which is suspended in the hanger-section of the trunk and which is capable of being adjusted to horizontal. ironing position with its outer-end propped up by a prop and its inner-end supported upon the two side-walls of the hanger-see tion; to thereby utilize said side-walls virtually as two separated legs and thus provide a broad, substantial support for the board while functioning as an ironing hoard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a follower or retainer having the usual function of holding the clothing in a compact mass and also the alternative function of an ironing-board, means being provided whereby the follower-board when not used asa follower may be adjusted so as to project outwardly from the open side of the. lrunloand be propped up in a horizontal. ironing position the side-walls of the hanger-section serving as leg-supports for the board. I v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a follower which may be readily converted into an ironing board, supported in horizontal position by the trunk and by the brace or locking bar, which Serial No. 341,134.

is used for holding the follower in place against the garments. Another object is to provide a follower which may be adjustably held in the garment section of the trunk so as to accommodate a few or a large number of garments, and which may be readily converted into an ironing board supported in horizontal position by the trunk and the means that are used to press it against the garments.

Another object is to provide a co. vertible follower capable of use as an ironing board and having a removable prop for supporting it upon the surface supporting the trunk. which prop is arranged to be used as the means for securing the follower in place against the gz-irnients when used for its original purpose.

lVith these and other objects and advantages in view this invention consists in a follower for wardrobe trunks arranged to be converted into an ironing board having means for supporting it in horizontal position. It further consists in a follower for wardrobe trunks arranged to be converted into an ironing board having a prop for supporting its free end and adapted to be used the means for securing the follower in place against the garments supported in the t'runk. The invention further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wardrobe trunk shown in open position and equipped with a convertible follower containing a simple embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the garment section of the trunk, showing the follower in front elevation; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a rear elevation ofthe follower locking bar, showing the same in extended position when used as a prop for the ironing board; Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of fragments of the ironing board and prop; Fig. dis a detail horizontalv section through the ironing board. and Fig. 7 is a fraginental detail vertical section taken on the line TT of Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings. the reference character 10 designates the garment section and 11 the drawer section of a wardrobe trunk 11, of ordinary and well known construction. Preferably the garment section is provided with a top 12 hinged to one side a of the garment section whereby it may be swung upward to expose the upper end of said section. Locking mechanism of any suitable form may be provided for securing the cover down upon the garment section and for locking the two sections together. In the upper end of the garment section is supported a garment supporting fixture 13, which has the usual horizontal rods 1 that support the gari'nent hangers 1 1. The parts thus far described are common and well known and need no further description so far as this specification is concerned.

In the form of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, the follower C comprises a fiat member 15 preferably in the form of a board, to one end of which is secured a rod 16, which supports one end of the board and is detachably secured to the garment section of the trunk, by any suitable means. In the drawings, a pair of notched bars or racks 17 are shown secured on the inner faces of the sides a of the garment section 10, which notched bars or racks receive the ends of the rod 16, the latter being provided, as a preference, with heads 18 upon its ends that prevent accidental dis engagement with the notched bars. are provided for holding the board 15 in. contact with the garments supported by the hangers 141:, and as shown said means coinprisc a locking bar 19 and two perforated, serrated or notched brackets 20 secured to the inner face of the sides a of the trunk section 10, the locking bar 19 being provided with co-operating lock or latch mechanism adapted for engagement with said b 'ackcts 20. As a preference, a hook like member 21 may be provided on one end of the bar 19, which may be inserted in any one of the holes in one of the brackets 20 and the other end of the bar may be provided with a latch 22 having a spring pressed bolt for engagement in the holes of the other bracket 20. The base plate of the latch 22 is formed with a book 22 that hooks over the bracket 20. (flee Fig. 7.) The bar 19 when plated againstthe follower board 15 and when engaged with the brackets 20 holds the follower from swinging outward. and by placing the rod 16 of the follower in the'proper notches in the notched bars 1? and swinging the follower board 15 tightly against the garments, the bar 19 may be secured to the brackets 20 in position against the'board so as to securely hold it in firm, pressing engagement against the garments. I

The follower thus far described may be readily disconnected from the garment section of the trunk by drawing back the Means spring bolt of the latch 22, swinging forward the bar 19 and withdrawing the hook like member 21 from the hole in the bracket 20, after which the board 15 be raised to disconnect the rod 16 from the notched bars 17. 7

To use the follower board 15 as an ironing board, I have padded one side thereof as at 23 (see Fig. 6), and have covered the board and padding with a covering 2 1. The follower board may be used as an ironing board by swinging it up into horizontal. position, with one end supported by the notched bars 17. the other end may be supported in any suitable manner, but I have made use of the locking bar 19 for this purpose, and. have made said bar in two sections 25, 26 hinged together bya hinge 27, whereby the two sections may be extended to form a prop twice the length of one section. The hinge is located on the side of the prop opposite the side on which the latch is located and clips 30 are pivotally secured to the section 25 by two of the rivets that fasten the latch to the section 25 and have end portions that are arranged to be swung over the section 26 when the two sections 25, 26 are extended to form a prop. Said clips 30 then engage with the underside of offset portions of clips 31 secured to the section 26 of the prop. This arrangement prevents buckling of the hinged prop when extended. A clip 32, having offset portions, is secured to the section 2:) in position to hold the clips 30 in place when not in use. The board 15 is provided with a ring or loop 28, which is secured to the board by a clip 29, with which ring the hook like member 21 of the locking bar 19 is made to engage when the locking bar is used as a prop to support the free end of the board 15 in horizontal position.

In use, the follower is removed from the garment section of the trunk, garments hung upon the hangers 14 and the latter placed upon the garment supporting fixture. The hangers are then pushed back toward the rear of the garment section, the rod 16 of the follower placed on the notched bars 17 close to the hangers, and the padded side of follower board swung down against the clothes. The locking bar 19, which has been folded back on its hinge'27, is then secured upon the brackets 20 to hold the follower board in firm contact with the garments by inserting the hook 21 into one of the holes in the bracket 20 on the left side of the section, and the other end of the locking bar then brought into engagement with the opposite bracket 20 and pushed back until the locking bar holds the board 15 in firm contact with the garments, the spring bolt of the latch 22 entering one of the adjacent holes in the bracket 20. It will be observed that the books 21, 2'2 engage with the brackets 20 and effectually prevent the locking bar from becoming disconnected therefrom in the event that the trunk is handled roughly. Furthermore, when the cover 12 is brought down upon the top of the garment section of the trunk, it is impossible for the hangers to become disengaged from the fixture B or for the rod 16 of the follower board .to be disengaged from the notched bars 1 7. The trunk is closed and locked in the usual manner.

To use the follower as an ironing board, the locking bar 19 is disconnected from the brackets 20, the two sections 26 swung into alignment, and the clips 30 swung under the off-set ends of the clip 31, thus making a rigid prop of the two sections of the locking bar. The follower board 15 may then be moved into horizontal position, with the padded side up, and the rod 16 thereof placed in any of the notches of the notched bars 17. The hook 2.1 of the extended follower locking bar 19 is then hooked in the ring or loop 28 and the prop swung down bringing its upper end into engagement with the underside of the board. The gar ment section of the trunk is thereby made to act as a support for one end of the ironing board, and theunfolded or extended locking bar is thus made toac-t as aprop or leg for the other end of the ironing board, said prop resting upon the floor or other surface supporting the trunk. hen not in use the prop may be disconnectedfrom the ring 28 of the ironing board, the ironing board. permitted'to swing down into the garment section of the trunk, the clips 30 swung out of engagement with the offset ends of the clip 31 and the two sections 25, 26 of the locking bar swung together ready to-be fastened to the brackets 20 to hold the board 15 in position as a follower.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore. not to 'limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new. Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a wardrobe trunk. a clothes retainer or follower in the form of a removable and reversible ironing-board padded on one side. means being provided for holding the padded side of said follower in clamping engagementwith the clothing and said follower being provided at its upper-end with laterally-projecting members. and means on the hanger-section of the trunk for interlocking with. said members when the follower reversed and adjusted to horizontal position for ironing purposes to thereby hold the follower against lateral and desire to secure by displacement and to utilize the hanger-section as a support. for the board.

2. In av wardrobe trunk having a section which contains a garment hanger fixture and garment hangers supported thereby, a follower supported by said section and having a locking bar for holding the follower in operative, upright position, said follower capable of being converted into an ironing board supported at one end by said section and at the other end by said locking bar.

3. In a. wardrobe trunk having a section which contains a garment hanger fixture and garment hangers supported thereby, a follower supported by said section having an extensible locking bar for holding said follower in upright, operative position, said follower capable of being converted into an ironing board supported at one end by said trunk section and supported at the other end by the extended locking bar resting on the surface supporting the trunk.

. t. In a wardrobe trunk having a section which contains a garment lninger fixture and garment hangers supported thereby. a follower comprising a. flat member and means for clamping said fiat member in said section in upright. operative position. said means being also arranged to support said flat member in horizontal position whereby the latter may be used as an ironing board.

5. In a wardrobe trunk having a section containing a garment fixture and garment hangers supported thereby. a. pair of oppositely disposed notched bars secured to the top of said section, a follower board having a supporting rod detat-hably secured in opposing notches of said notrhed bars, an extensible locking bar and brackets on said section for holding said board in upright, operative position, said locking bar when extended operating as a prop supporting the free end of said board inhorizontal position. whereby it may be used, as an ironing board.

6. In a wardrobe trunk having a garment section containing a garment fixture and garment hangers supported thereby, a follower board remo ably supported by said section. an extensible locking bar and brackets for holding said board in upright. operative position, said locking bar having a detachable connection with the free end of said board and capable of acting as a prop to support said free end when the board occupies a horizontal position. whereby the latter may be used as an ironing board.

'7. In a wardrobe trunk having a garment section containing a garment fixture and garment hangers supported thereby. a follower board removably supported by said section, an extensible locking bar and brackets for holding said board in upright, operative position, said locking bar having removably engaging said supporting-brackets in such manner as to permit the board to hang vertically thereon within the hangcr-section when the trunk is closed and to permit the board to be adjusted to horizontal position outside the hanger-section for ironing purposes when the trunk is open, whereby when in the latter position the two vertical walls of the trunk virtually form two legs for the inner end of the ironingboard, and a movable prop for the outer end of the ironing-board when in ironing position.

19. A wardrobe trunk comprising two sections adapted to open apart, one section being an open clothes-hanger-section, an ironing-board pivotally supported on the Vertical walls of the clothes-hanger-section at their upper outer corners, whereby the ironing-board may hang in a vertical position within the hanger-section when the trunk is closed and may swing up to horizontal position when the trunk is open, the vertical walls of the hangersection serving as two legs when the board is thus adjusted to hori zontal position for ironing purposes, and a prop for the outer end of the ironing-board.

20. A wardrobe trunk embodying two hinged sections, the front of one of said sections being open, a bracket affixed to the inside of each vertical side-wall of this open section near its upper outer corner, an ironing-board and means attached to its inner end for engagement with said brackets to permit the board to hang vertically within the hanger-section when the trunk is closed or to be adjusted to horizontal position for ironing purposes when the trunk is open, said means embodying abutments to prevent endwise movement of the supporting means in the brackets, and a prop for the outer end of the board when in ironing position.

21. A wardrobe trunk comprising two hinged sections one of which is open at the front side, brackets affixed to the vertical side-walls of the open section on the inside thereof, an ironing-board having a rod attached to its inner edge and projecting beyond the side edges of the board, said projecting ends being adapted to pivotally enin said brackets to permit the board to pivotally hang vertically within the trunk or to swing up to a horizontal position outside the trunk for ironing purposes, said projecting ends having lateral shoulders to engage the said brackets and thus tie the walls of the trunk together and at the same time prevent lateral movement of the board in the brackets, and a prop for the outer end of the board when in ironing position.

22. In a wardrobe trunk embodying a hangersection having adjustable clotheshangers therein, a follower in the form of an ironing-board and devices for adjusting and locking the board against the clothing on the hangers to thereby clamp the same in a compact mass, said board being provided at each end with means for engaging a support when the board is used as an ironingboard, the means at the upper-end of the follower-board being adapted to engage and be supported on the two side-walls of the hangeusection, said two side-walls being provided with devices adapted to interlock with said means and thus hold the followerboard against lateral movement while in use as an ironing-board.

23. In a wardrobe trunk embodying a plurality of suspended adjustable clotheshangers and a follower and means for clamping said follower against the clothing on the hangers, said follower being in the .form of a padded solid board adapted to serve as an ironingboard when removed from the hangerrhamber of the trunk, said follower being provided at its inner, upper end with means whereby it will be pivot-ally suspended when in use as a follower and be supported on the two side-walls of the hanger-section when adjusted for ironing purposes, said two side-walls of the hangersection being provided with brackets for engaging and supporting the means on the inner, upper end of the follower.

24:. In a wardrobe trunk having a hangersection. adjustable clothes-hangers in said hanger-section. a presser adjustably hung in said hanger-section, and means whereby said presser may be maintained in pressure relation to the clothes on said hangers. said presser being a stiff, flat board in the form of a padded ironing-board and being provided at its inner, upper end with means whereby it may be supported on the trunk structure when adjusted for use as an ironing-board. the hanger-section of the trunk being provided on its two side-walls with interlocking devices cooperating with said means on the follower to thereby utilize the side-walls as supports and also hold the follower against lateral movement while in use as an ironing-board.

BEi M. HAhILlN. 

